• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A consortium won the bidding for the P1.2-billion Negros Occidental Bulk Water Supply Project (NBWSP), Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Thursday (Dec. 12).
Lacson said that First Balfour, which forms part of the Lopez Group of Companies, with Victorias Milling Company as the local partner, won the bidding.
Other companies, who earlier expressed interest in the Capitol bulk water project, did not join the bidding, which was held on Dec. 11.
“It was considered a successful bidding,” Lacson said.
The documents submitted by the winning bidder is now being checked by the Bids and Awards Committee, he added.
“It’s good that a local company is willing to invest,” the governor said.
The NBWSP involves the financing, engineering design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a bulk water supply system with a minimum capacity of 34.5 million liters/day to be sourced from the Imbang River and/or Malogo River.
It is expected to supply treated bulk water to six water service providers in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Victorias, and the municipalities of Manapla and E.B. Magalona.
Lacson said the consortium submitted a bid of P24 per cubic meter of water.
“It’s cheaper than the P20 per bottled water being sold in the market,” he added.
Lacson said that the construction of the bulk water supply project is expected to start next year. | GB
